For this week’s vendor spotlight, we had a chance to talk with Lisa Houswerth, the event producer for True Cuisine Catering/Special Events. We are featuring True Cuisine and their sister company, Sweet Baby Rays Catering!
True Cuisine has been in the catering industry for over thirty years and Sweet Baby Rays Catering has been in the industry for over ten years.
On average, the company produces between 75-150 weddings a year, and that number continues to grow year after year!
I cannot give enough credit to our entire team, as each event would not be possible or as successful as they are without all of their help! Although I may be your main point of contact throughout the planning process, there is an entire team both behind the scenes and on-site, that is making sure every detail is hit and that your wedding day is everything you hoped it would be and more!
What sets True Cuisine and SBR apart from other caterers? Well, according to Lisa, a few things. The variety of menu options offered including their seasonal selections; the quality of freshness of our product; their artistic style of food presentation; they are a scratch kitchen and have a farm to table approach; and the level of service they provide.
We will assist with all details of your event from custom menu creation based off of what excites you and that you want to serve at your event, taking care of your event and table enhancements, staffing, floor plan, and timeline creation, coordinating with vendors, and setting up any personal décor items or centerpieces.
Lisa has always worked in the hospitality industry. For about five years she has been working in the wedding industry and has found her true passion.
I have always enjoyed bringing people together to celebrate, no matter the occasion. And when you spend time getting to know your clients, their story, and their vision, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing all the details come together, and the smiles, laughs, and memories that are shared between friends and family, knowing you got to be a part of making such a special day memorable for all.
The best part for Lisa is that no two weddings or events produced with the team are ever the same.
Each client and couple I work with is unique, and although the logistics of how to execute the event may be similar based on the venue, style of service, or guest count, the details are never the same and we are always creating a new experience for both guests, and our team!
I love collaborating with my clients and our team and am constantly coming up with new, creative ideas that make both planning an event, and attending an event, fun and exciting for all involved!
True Cuisine is known for their seasonal menus and selections. Each year in the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, their culinary team comes up with a new menu based off of what is in season and on trend.
These tend to be the most popular selections each year. However, being the scratch kitchen that we are, we are not limited to any types of food or cuisines! We have done themed menus, fusion cuisines, and can also always accommodate any food preference or allergies whether it be for one guest, or the entire group.
We can do everything from heavy hors d’ oeuvres, buffet, family style, plated, or fun food stations that can be interactive! You are also not limited to one style. I’ve seen clients that like to do a salad course, but then a buffet for the rest of the meal, or do plated with sweets and/or a late night station. The possibilities are endless!
We always enjoy hearing that other vendors love working with us and we are so happy that Lisa and her team have such kind words to say about us.
What I love about working with the Haight is that their venue space invites a unique and fun experience for anyone that walks through the front doors before even adding any personal touches or details. I also enjoy working with the entire Haight team both prior to an event and on-site. Their attention to detail, and value that they offer their clients is top notch. They make their clients feel comfortable, and at ease and assist with all details.
The Google sheets they use are easy to navigate and read. They cover any detail any vendor would want to know about the wedding day. It is great to see how involved they are in the planning process, and the day of making it truly a team effort between all vendors, with one goal in common—to create an unforgettable event from start to finish where the client gets to enjoy themselves just as much as their guests and not have to worry about a single thing!
Lisa’s advice to newly engaged couples is to trust and enjoy the process! At first it may seem like there is so much on your to do list and not enough time to do it, but if you just put one or two things on a list to execute each month, it’ll be so much more enjoyable! She also says to work together on projects and make decisions together!
I always find that when I work with couples, each person has different elements to the wedding that are more important to them. Make sure you listen to each other’s ideas and thoughts when it comes to making decisions, and help each other out!